Assessment of nutritional status for preschool children refugee in Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Nutritional assessment could considers as a valuable tool for detecting growth abnormalities at early age of children and therefore help in designing the proper intervention programs for keeping health wei/ness. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of 100 pre-school refugee children from different nationalities (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Syria, Iraq and Ivory Coast) homed in Egypt. Children were divided into 2 groups which are healthy group and sick one. In this study, several factors that might influence the nutritional status and its related nutritional problems were assessed .Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, z score and body mass index "BMI'', food intake and some of laboratory investigation were evaluated. Obtained result showed that daily food intake of macronutrient and micronutrient over healthy group was higher than that of sick group according to Dietary Reference Intakes DR/. In sick group of examined children, 67% were generally healthy wasted, while 38% were suffered with growth stunting. No one was wasted or stunted in growth among the healthy group in addition to no current disease among them were observed. However, anemia, rickets and anemia with rickets there were detected in 26%, 12% and 62% of sick children group. The majority of sick group were African as 82% from Sudan, 10% fromEritria, 6% from Ethiopia and 2% from Ivory Coast. Eighty four percent of sick children had dark skin color, whereas healthy children were had fair skin with ratio 60% fair skin and 40% black skin. Rickets was most commonly in children with dark skins. Through laboratory investigations, it could be observed that decreasing in serum Ca (ionized), Ca (total), and phosphorus. Also, alkaline phosphatase was elevated among sick children with decreased haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. Whereas, most of laboratory tests of healthy children were within normal values. Daily food intake of vitamin D in sick children was very low (3. 8% of DRI). In addition to their dark skin which acts as like a barrier to receive useful substance from sun light, they had no exposure to sun light well because most of them lived under ground. From the previous results, it could be concluded that increase awareness and educational status for parents must be taken into consideration of refugee supervisor. Encourage families of sick children to use family planning method for birth control as well as change certain of bad nutritional behavior like drinking of tea immediately after meals. Expose children to sunlight for enough time. Introduce of balanced diet and fortified food for these children category could involve strongly in improvement of sick children health status

Summary in Arabic.

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